Refrigeration



March 29, 1927. 1,622,522

F. G. KEYES REFRIGERAT ION Filed Nov. 6, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 r- `N N N C E 'a ,Y wwmsmwm W abme 2 l www March 29,1927.v y, 1,622,522

F. G.. KEYES REFRIGERATION Filed Nov, 6, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 anw/nto@ 351g' Mfw @Moz/mu# 4 A @M/M@ March 29, 1927.

F. G. KEYES REFRIGERATION Filed NOV. 6, 1923 MEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 29, 1927. 1,622,522 F. G. KEYES REFRIGERATION Filed Nov. 6, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 )NVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 29, 1927.

F. G. KEYES REFMGERATION Filed Nov. 6, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. KEYES, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE AS.

SIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL REFRIGERATING COMPANY, F BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

REFRIGERATION.

Application led November 6,1923. Serial No. 678,105.

vention in the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of my apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a lon 'tudinal sectional view through a check va ve manifold of the confluit system of my apparatus.

Fig. 3 shows a Bourdon tube` gauge with electrical contacts thereon for controlling an electric heating circuitat a critical pressure in the refrigerant system.

Fig. 4 is a'plan view in part section of an electrically controlled two-way valve for the cooling system of my apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of said two-way valve.

Fig. 6 is an elevation view in part section of the refrigeration chamber of my apparatus showing expansion coils and a `float controlled contactorv for making electrical connections through various parts of elec-I 4-trical control apparatus of the system in accol-dance with refrigerant levels in the refrigerator chamber.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of said contactor and its immediate connections.

Fig. 8 shows a thermal fuse in an electric heater circuit situated in the wall of a still which is apart of my apparatus.

Fig. 9 is an end view of said thermal fuse.

Fig. 10 is-a view in elevation of a condenser chamber and liquid valve of my apparatus having a float controlled valve therein.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 10 on line 11h11. K

Fig. l2 is a plan view of the device of Fig 1o.

Fig. 13 is an elevation view of the interior i of the still or generator of my apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional View through i said still.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view looking in the direction of arrow 14--14 in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view looking 1n the direction of arrow 16-16 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 shows in elevation a spacer ,and baiile used in the still.

Fig. 18 is a plan viewiof said spacer-l baiile.

Referring to the drawings, a distillation chamber or still 13 containing a refrigerant has in a pocket 14 thereof an electric heating coil 15 (see Fig. 14) connectedl through wires 1 and 2 to the electric supply mains 11 and 12, respectively. Between lead 2 and the main 12 are connected suitable`control mechanism as hereinafter fully described. A condenser comprising condensing chamber and liquid valve 16 and condensing coil 21 are connected to the still 13 by the ipe 17, the manifold 18, the check valve 19, t e pipe 20, coil 21, pipe 22 to chamber 16. The check valve 19 allows the refrigerant to flow through it from the still 13 tothe condensing chamber and liquid valve 16 but prevents flow through it in the opposite direction. From the condensin chamber 16 passage is provided for t e refrigerant through the needle valve opening 23 (see Fig. 11), through pipe '24, to the refrigerating chamber 25 and coils 26. From the refrigerating chamber 25 connection is made through pipe 27, check valve 28, manifold 'd water supply and distribution plpes', cooling coils and an electrically controlled two-way valve 29, (see Figs. 4 and 5), which latter serves to direct the flow' of "the water alternately through the cooling coils of said still 13 and chamber 16. The pipe 30 connects the cooling systemy to the water supply mains through said two-way valve 29. The pipe 31 connects vthe main 30 through one position of valve 29 to the coil 36 which surrounds still 13. A branch pipe 37 connects pipe 31 to an interior cooling coil 38 situated within still 13 (see also Figs. 13 and 14) and with which the refri erating medium comes in direct contact. oils 36 and 38 discharge through pipes 39 and 39 to the discharge pi e 35. The main 30' is connected through t e valve 29 at its'other position through pipe 32, cooling coil 33, pipe 34, to discharge pipe 35. Coil 33 surrounds the condensing chamber and liquid valve 16 and has coiled within it the condensing coil 21.

The valve 29 is operated to direct the water flow either through pipe 31 or pipe 32 b means of an armature 42, one end of whic works in solenoid 40 and the other end in solenoid 41. By means of an automatic system of electric switches hereinafter fully dcscribed the solenoids are alternately energized to cause (see Fig. 5) the plunger 42 to rotate the cone gate 45 at certain intervals of time back and Aforth throuffh the are be.

tween the ports 43 and 44 whereby the port 46 in gate 45 alternately'registers with the ports 43 and 44.

The eriodic low of current through heating coll 15 (see Fig. 14) and the flow of waterthrough valve 29 alternately to cooling coil 33 and to cooling coils 36 and 38 are controlled by means of an electrical system includng switches 48, 49, and 51 and a switching arrangement in refrigerating chamber 25. The switches 48, 49, 50 and 51 are mounted on a rocking beam (not shown) which is controlled and actuated by the armatures 54 and 55 which work in solenoids 52 and 53 respectively as fully set forth in my prior application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 359,882. Switch 48 makes and breaks a connection in the circuit of solenoid 40, one side of which is connected through wire 5 to one side of said switch 48 and the other side through the .Wire 4 to the main l1. The other side of switch 48 is connected both to one side 49n of time switch 49 and to one side of solenoid 52, the other side of said solenoid 52 being connected tothe wire 56 and through it to contact 57 in said refrigeratorv chamber 25 (see Figs. 6 and 7). Mounted on float 62 within said chamber 25 is a contact making disc 58 which, when float 62 is at its upper limit of movement, makes contact with said contact 57 and a corresponding contact .59 which latter with wires 60 and 61 make connection with main 11. The mid-point 4.9 of switch 49 is connected to main 12 through wire 8. The side 49b of switch 49 is connected through wire 10 both to switch 50 and solenoid 53. The other side of switch 50 is connected through wire 9 and solenoid 41, through Wire 4 to the main 11. The other side of solenoid 53 is connected through wire 63, contact 64, contacting disc 58. contact 65, wire 66, wire 61 to maln 11. The switch 51 is connected on one side to main l1 and on the other tothe heating coil 15 and thence to main 12.

As shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the body 67 of the valve receives the vapor or liquid through the intake port 83 and discharges liquid therefrom through the opening 23 of the needle valve comprised by it and the closure 73. Intake port 83 is connected through conduit 22 and condenser coil 21 to the pipe 20 having a one-way valve from a still and discharge port 23 is connected by a pipe 24 to a refrigeration chamber 25. The float 7 0 is formed as a sealed hollow ball and to it is fixed the rod 72 which passes through it and the lower end of which extends below the ball and terminates in the point 73 which forms the closure for the opening 23. 'lhe upper end of the rod also extends beyond the ball and rides in the guide hole 76 which is sunk in the cap 68 of the valve. The lower part of the valve body 16 conforms in shape to that of the ball, that is, the lower part is substantially henri-spherical. Attached to the inside of the cap 68 is the bell 68 which is concave underneath to conform in shape to the top of the ball. The inside diameters of the body 67 and of the bell 68 together with the outside diameter of the ball 70 provide for a liquid chamber 16 which is so dcsigned as to require a minimum of liquid to operate the float thus permitting a building up of the pressure therein to force liquid through the valve. As used in connection with my refrigeration s 'stem of Fig. 1 the body thereof is surroun ed with the cooling coil 33 through which passes the pipe 21 connecting refrigerant feed pipe 20 and pipe 22 which discharges into the body of the valve.

The cap 68 screws into the body 67 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and the bell 68'. fixed to said cap is of such a diameter as to provide a close sliding lit with the inside diameter of said body. A diameter equal to the root diameter of the cap threads I find provides a good fit therefor. Between the cap 68 and the body 67 is the gasket 69 which provides for a sealing of the joint therebetween. The relief valve 71 connects with the interior 16 of the valve and serves as means for opening the interior of the'valve to the air without removing the cap.

The standard 74'is aiiixed to the bottom of the valve body 67 by means of the nut 75 which is threaded on the nipple 82y and screwed a vainst boss 77 at the top and center of sai standard.

AThe discharge opening 23 ofthe-needle valve is formed through the nipple 82, which in Fig. 1.

Means latter is made of desired metal and with opening 23 of the desired size to meet conditions existing or desired.

As shown in Fig. 12 and in dotted line in Fig. 11, the cap 68 is provided with Wrench holes 7 8 which facilitate the removing of the cap and the putting of it on.

Inl the operation of my valve liquid or vapor is admitted into the body 16 through theI port 83 and upon the accumulation of a sufficient amount of liquid to lift the vfloat 70 the needle valve 7 3-23 is opened and the accumulated liquid discharged therethrough and only as much as is found sufficient to lift the float. In the operation thereof in the above mentioned refrigeration system the vapor from the still of the system is condensed'either in their condensing pipe 33 or in the body of the valve or partly condensed in said pipes and partly in the body of the valve. A rapid condensation of the vapor and because of the comparatively small capacity ofthe valve a rapid succession of discharges of liquid is fed y therefrom through the discharge port y23 which in the above mentioned refrigeration system is conducted to refrigeration chamber 25. The position of the inlet port 83 near the discharge port 23 precludes any appreciable amount of vapor passing out through port 23 due to the fact that the liquid inthe valve will seal port 23 against such va or.

I have shown my valve as mounte on a standard and described its use in a refrigeration system but the valve can be mounted in various ways and it can be used in systems other than refrigeration systems and for handling liquids or vapor, or both.

In Fig. 2 is shown the details of the mani` fold 18 which connects the still 13 both to the condenser 16-21 and to the refrigerator 25-26. l/Vithin the manifold is a screen 84 which extends lengthwise of the manifold and is mounted to the nipple 85 which is screwed into the end of nipple 86' which in turn is screwed into the end of manifold 18. The other end of the manifold is adapted t0 be connected toha pressure gauge 88 as shown 'l e conical seat which is pressed toward the manifold by means of spring 90 and allows Huid to pass from the still 13 but prevents its flow in the gopposit'e direction. The check valve 28 has a. conical seat 91 which 1s pressed by sprino' 92 away from the manifold and allows uid to pass to the still 13 but prevents flow in the opposite direction.

Fig. 3 shows a pressure gauge 88 for the refrigerant system. This gauge is-adapted to function as a safety device which short circuits the heating coil 15 whenthe pressure in the system reaches a certain value. The Bourdon tube 93 carries a contact 95 Aand as the curvature of the tube decreases with increased pressure within the tube the -for any reason the heating valve 19 has within it a Contact 95 approaches and touches the stationary contact 94 throughwhich contacts alle heating coil 15 is short circuited Wherey it Fig. l).

As shown in Fig. 1, a fuse 96 serves to blow the circuit to the coil 15 in case the current through the mains should reach too high a value. f

Another safety device is a thermal fuse 97 which is placed in one ofthe feed mains and positioned within the walls of the still 13 near the pipe coil 36 (see Figs. 8 and 9). This fuse is adapted to be molten should coil be left on when the temperature on that account becomes excessive. The spring 98 is adapte/d to push the molten or softened fuse 97 to disrupt it and cause the circuittherethrough to be broken, thus causin the shutting otl' of the heating current tirough 'resistance Figs. 13 to 18 show the details of a still which I use in my refrigerating apparatus. In Fig. 14 is shown a vertical sectional view of a still having an outer wall 99, heads 101 and 102, and a re-"ntrant casing with its headfl04.` The casing 100 houses the electrical heating coil 15, the 'terminals 106 and 107 of which are mounted on the head 105. This head and the coil 15 form a unit which can be easily and quickly removed for repair. or replacement, etc. The refrigerant conduit or pipe 17 passes through the wall of the outer casing 99 and divides into a plurality of also Figs. 13' and 15). In the interior of the still the spacing and heat conducting members 108 are mounted on the casing 100. These members serve to space the cooling coil 38 from the casing 100 and also to conduct heat from casing 100 to the absorbent material in the still or eneratr, as shown in Figs. 13 t0 16.l On te outside of casing 99 is mounted the pipe coil 36 which carries cooling fluid about the outside of the still. This coil and the still is shown in Fig. 1` as being encased in a heat insulating jacket 109.

' he spacing members 108 are cupshaped 'punchings having wing yflanges 110 struck out and left parallel to the bottom. The

cup edges 113 are upset sutliciently for oneA cup to nest within another for a short distance to secure rigidity when assembled o n the casing 100. `A rim115 is yturned up along the edge of the central opening 114 of the spacing members. This rim adds further rigidity to the spacers when assembled on the casing. The wing flanges 110 act as bales, heat distributorsand distributeto the coolingcoil 38 the iluidentering from the openings 111 in pipe 103. l

The operation of the refrigerating system of my invention asv described above is as follows, starting with the switching apparatus perforated branches 103 (see ceases to act as a heating coil, (see in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the 'electric mains 11 and 12V connected to a source of current and with no refrigerant in the rerigerating chamber 25. The refrigerant will be stored in the still 13 and thefheating coil115 will be energized. When suiiicient heat has been generated inthe still the Va.- porized fluid will be forced by the resulting pressure through pipe 17 and coil 21 into the condenser chamber 16. Valve 29 being open on the condenser side, the water flowing through coil '33 will cool the 4fluid in coil 21 and chamber 16 causing 'it' to condense.

lVhen a suiiicient quantity of liquid has co1.

lected in chamber 16 the float 70 will be displaced and needle 73 raised thereby allowing lthe liquid to vflow through pipe 24 into the refrigerator chamber 25, where it collects. As the level of the liquid in chamber 25 rises Vit carries float 62 upward and lifts contact member 58 up to contacts 57 and 59 whereby an electrical connection therebetween is established. u

Current will then flow from main.. 11 through conductor 61, conductor 60, contact 59, contactor 58, contact 57, conductor 56, solenoid 52, conductor 7, switch 49, conductor 8 to main 12, thereby energizing the solenoid 52, the armature 54 of which being actuated will pull the switch bar (not shown) down. Switches 5() and 51 will then be open, 51 cutting ot' the heating current to the heating coil 15. Switch 48 will be closed and the 49a side of time-switch 49 will remain closed for five seconds, the time required for the mercury `to flow through the constriction in time-switch 49. 'A circuit then for five seconds .will be established from main 11, wire 4, solenoid 40, Wire 5, switch 48, wire 6, wire 7, the 49a side of switch 49, terminal 49, wire 8, to main 12, whereupon solenoid 40 will be energized and valve 29 actuated to close the port to cooling coils 33 and to open the port to pipes 31 and 37 and to cooling coils 36 and 38 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) whereby still 13 is cooled. The current passing through solenoid 40 for five seconds insures the moving of the kvalve 29 to its proper position. The cooling of the still 13 results in a considerable and gradual decrease in pressure therein and withdraws vapor from the refrigerating chamber 25 through pipe 27, valve 28 and pipe 17. llith the decrease in pressure there is a vaporization of the liquid in refrgerating chamber 25 and coils connected -thereto attended wth a consequent decrease in temperature. The vaporization and decrease in temperature in chamber 25 continue until contact is made by cont-actor 58 between c ontacts 64 and 65, switch 51 is closed and pressure raised in still 13.

As the liquid in chamber 25 vaporizes its level therein falls and with it the float 62 until the contacter 58 strikes contacts 64 and `ductor- 11,

mam!) the circuit is closed from conthrough conductors 61 and 66, contact 65, contacter 58, contact 64, conductor 63, solenoid 53, switch 49 (side 49), conductor 8, to main 12. The solenoid 53 now being energizedl and Solenoid 52 de-ener- 65 whereby gized, switch 48 will be opened, switches 50l and 51 will be closed, and switch 49b will remain closed 'for a period of five seconds during which solenoid 41 will be energized for the actuation of valve 29 to close the port to pipes 31 and 37 and to cooling coils 36 and 38 and to -open the port through pipe 32 to cooling coil or condenser 33 whereby liquid valve' chamber 16 is cooled. .Heating current now lows through heating co.l 15 in still 13 and cooling water flows through pipe coils 33, the water through pipe coils 36 and 38 being turned 0E.

Again the vaporized refrigerant will pass from the still 13 to the condenser 21--16 where it condenses and vaccumulates until there is sufficient therein to dlsplace oat and open valves 73, 23. The liquid again flows into the refrigerating chamber and coils connected thereto for evaporization when the contactor 58 closes the circuit through solenoid 52 and a decrease in pressure in still 13 is effected by the cooling thereof. The distillation, condensation and refrigeration cycle is thus carried on repeatedly while mains 11 and 12 are energized.

In view of the great cooling eect and small volume of space 16, the liquid is forced to condense rapidly and collect at the bottom of space 16. When sufficient liquid is accumulated to raise float and valve 73, the amount of liquid which had suiiiced to raise the float is discharged through pipe 24 into chamber 25 and the float and valve 73 drop baclr into place. During the distillation period this accumulating and releasing operation 1s repeated many times in the chamber 67 until the desired level of the li uidin chamber 25 is attained,`as hereinbe ore set forth.

Suitable absorbent materials in the form of granules, powder, lumps, or briquettes. and so on, are distributed on the horizontal `surfaces of fins 108 of balile plates 110 of still 13, and materials, among others, which I contemplate using herein for this purpose are ammoniatcd chemical compounds such as-described in my applications Ser. Nos. 475,855, tiled June 8, 1921; 586,550. filed September 6, 1922; and 590,668, filed lSeptember 26, 1922, of which this application is a continuation in part. A particular chemical compound material is the calcium chloride, magnesium oxychloride material of my application Ser. No: 590,668, to which has been added in the preparation of said material as described in said application a quantity up to 10% of commercial alundum cement.

lil-ft lill I claim:

1. In refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a refrlgerator chamber, a condenser, a still, pipe connection from said still to said condenser with a check valve therein permitting flow from said still to said condenser. pipe connection from said condenser to said refrigeration chamber, pipe connection from said refrigeration chamber to Said still with a check valvetherein permitting flow from said refrigeration chamber 4to said still, a refrigerant therein. heating means for said still, cooling means for said still, cooling means for said condenser, means for controlling said beforementioned meansfor causing the still heating means and condenser cooling means to operate and to cause said still cooling means to be inoperative and vice versa. means controlled by the' liquid level in said refrigerating chamber for controlling said first mentioned controlling means. and means in said condenser for repeatedly passing liquid to the refrigerating chamber during the distilling period.

2. In refrigerator apparatus, in combination, a still, a condenser, a refrigerator chamber, a one-way pipe connection from the still to the condenser, a pipe connection from the condenser to the refrigerator chamber, a one-way -pipc connection from the refrigerator chamber to the still, a liquid level controlled valve in said condenser for repeatedly passing liquid to the refrigerating chamber during the distilling period, cooling means for said still, heating means for said still, cooling means for said condenser, and means controlled by the liquid level in said refrigerator chamber for causing the still heating means and condenser cooling means to operate and the still cooling meansto be inoperative simultaneously and for causing the still cooling means to operate and the. still heating means and the condenser cooling means to be inoperative simultaneously.

3. In 'a refrigerating apparatus, in combination, a still, acondenser, a refrigerator, one-way pipe connection from said still .to said condenser, pipe connection between sald condenser, and

frigerant therein,

said refrigerator, one-way 'y aaa B pipe connection electric means for controlling said valve whereby water can bev sent through said condenser cooling coils or through said still cooling coils alternately, connections between said electric supply mains and said valve controlling means and switches in said connections. and means controlled by the liquid level in said refrigerator chamber for controlling said heating coil switch and said valve controlling means.

4. nation, a refrigerator'chamber, a condenser, a still, pipe connection from said still to said condenser with a check valve therein permitting ilowfrom said still to said condenser, pipe connection' from said condenser to said refrigerator chamber, pipe connection from said refrigeration chamber to said still with a check valve therein permitting flow from said refrigeration heating means for said still,'cooling Ymeans for said still, coolingmeans for saidcondenser, means' for conchamber to said still, a re- In refrigerating apparatus, in combitrolling` said beforementioned means for causing the still heating means and con? denser cooling means to operate and to cause said still cooling means to be inoperative and vice versa, means controlled by the liquid level in said refrigerating chamber for controlling said first mentioned controlling means, and means for retaining the vapor at the condenser until suiicient pressure is developed at that point to cause it to condense and to force accumulated liquid in the desired direction.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature. FREDERICK KEYES. 

